It's a wonderful life?
I did a bit of research on today's post. Some of it came from the Tribune, via Huffingtonpost.com; some of it came from looking up a quote that I can't really attribute to anyone. In that research, though, I came up with a novel idea which I'll share with you in a minute.
Our beloved(?) Senator, Orrin Hatch, it seems is trying to hire so-called "tea party" members to his re-election campaign. Shrewd move. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. With the politics in this state and what happened to Senator Bennett last time around, it seems pretty smart. I don't care for Senator Hatch's politics but I have a great deal of respect for the Senator. I don't think he and I have agreed on many key issues over the years but when I've expressed my opinion, I've always received a reply from his office; something former Senator Bennett never could be bothered to do. That allowed me to disagree with Senator Hatch without being disagreeable.
As I read the article about this in the Tribune, one of the key disagreements one of the "tea party" activists had against Senator Hatch was him being in favor of expanding government entitlements by supporting the CHIP program. This is health insurance for otherwise uncovered children in the United States. Really?
I love me some uber-Conservative right wingers. They've won me over! Let's end all entitlement programs for the poor. Let's do away with food stamps. Let's raise the retirement age, after all, we're living longer. Let's do away with Social Security for anyone under the age of 40. Let's cut back government regulation of just about everything! Let's abolish union rights to collectively bargain. Let's do away with all those "fat-cat" benefits that public sector workers get.
I heard this thought (can't call it a quote, really) about the end of a democracy: It's over when the politicians can bribe the electorate with the treasury. In a small sense, this seems to be what Republicans have been doing over the last several years with the wealthy. In Florida, the Governor wants to pretty much eviscerate public funding of the school system in favor of a tax cut for corporations. I heard this last night on a news program. There's a good idea. It's worked so well on a federal level.
I really think it's about time to let the Republicans have their way! Never mind the mess they got us into in the first place. Never mind the last time we had a balanced budget, it was a democratic president working with a republican congress to run the government responsibly and we were all doing pretty well at that time.
What's the worst that could happen? No money for the arts. Cut money for education. No more PBS, nor NPR. No more planned parenthood (yes I hate abortion as much as the next guy, BTW), and cutting benefits for the poor and needy always is a good idea. I thought Pottersville looked like a jumping, swinging town compared to sleepy old Bedford Falls; didn't you?
What's the worst that could happen?
We can attract the best minds in America to be teachers because they're willing to work for less. Never mind the cost of the education required to BE a teacher, it's OK to have student loans out the ying-yang for a job that won't pay much, is difficult, and won't have the benefits it used to. After all, you only work nine months out of the year, so you can get a summer job mowing lawns at the park or something to make up the difference! We can cut the number of federal employees by cutting government. They can find jobs elsewhere because the job market is so strong right now. So what if the environment gets a little bit worse. (remember Love Canal?) So what if there's nobody to oversee the banks and big businesses that are responsible for much of the regulation we have today. So what if there's no oversight of the food and drug companies? That won't kill ALL of us!
Never mind the history books full of photos of the 1930s. Faith based organizations are ready and willing to step in and fill the void because giving to these groups is at an all-time high right now.
Unions are horrible. Let's go back to the days without them and remember it won't be like last time.
I likes me a Governor that's willing to rule with an iron fist. No compromises, that's key to leadership! His benefactors, (oops, I mean supporters!) clearly must be pleased. Let's keep on keeping on that path. Way to go Wisconsin for not caving in to what the people want. You all must be so proud of this shining example of what good Government is.
Rock on, Ohio! Way to go, Florida! Show us what you're made of, Indiana.
I'm serious about this. Let's let the Conservatives have their way. We can afford it. We can do it. Those of us lucky enough to have jobs will be fine and as long as we get ours, who cares about Bob, our neighbor. Let someone else worry about him. After all, this is America. We expect everyone to WORK for what they get. Apparently we expect them to work, now, until they drop. What the hell? It works in places like India and China, right?
As you see a continued shift of wealth away from the middle class, you're going to start seeing more of this. It's like Mr. Potter took over and he and his cronies are doing their best to make us a thrifty working class afraid of standing up for what's right, while they exact every penny we earn for their benefit. It's gotta be a great idea because the tea party says so! Capatilism! Greed is good! (heard that in a movie once)
Seriously, though. I'm not really advocating this. It would be awful. We do have to have a serious discussion about entitlements. I don't see anything wrong with expecting us to fund our own retirements through a government program. I think it's smart, in fact because the corporate dynamic has changed. Social Security exists for a reason. Look at how many corporate pension plans have failed. That's capitalism. You roll the dice, hope you'll still be in business long enough to pay your retirees but if the market speaks, sorry for your luck. And yours, Bob, for trusting your employer would be around for a long time. Look at how many big corporations are extinct, or would be, save a little Government intervention.
I think, too, that most people want to work. If there are people that do, and can't make ends meet because of a lack of education or ability, then what's wrong with a hand up. Why shouldn't we take care of our sick, our elderly, and our disabled?
I guess that's why you have a family, though, right? Or a church? Or a group like the United Way? And if you get sick and can't afford treatment that could save your life, well I guess it's "sorry for your luck." Have we really become that cold of a people?
What we want from Government I think is an important discussion to have. I think it's time we start having it on a local, county, state, and federal level and it's incumbent on us to become an informed electorate. You have to start listening to opinions you don't agree with to understand what the other side wants and why. Compromise is always good. Issues are important. We're broke as a country and at $4 a gallon for gas, households are fixing to get that way really fast.
What say you?
Our beloved(?) Senator, Orrin Hatch, it seems is trying to hire so-called "tea party" members to his re-election campaign. Shrewd move. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. With the politics in this state and what happened to Senator Bennett last time around, it seems pretty smart. I don't care for Senator Hatch's politics but I have a great deal of respect for the Senator. I don't think he and I have agreed on many key issues over the years but when I've expressed my opinion, I've always received a reply from his office; something former Senator Bennett never could be bothered to do. That allowed me to disagree with Senator Hatch without being disagreeable.
As I read the article about this in the Tribune, one of the key disagreements one of the "tea party" activists had against Senator Hatch was him being in favor of expanding government entitlements by supporting the CHIP program. This is health insurance for otherwise uncovered children in the United States. Really?
I love me some uber-Conservative right wingers. They've won me over! Let's end all entitlement programs for the poor. Let's do away with food stamps. Let's raise the retirement age, after all, we're living longer. Let's do away with Social Security for anyone under the age of 40. Let's cut back government regulation of just about everything! Let's abolish union rights to collectively bargain. Let's do away with all those "fat-cat" benefits that public sector workers get.
I heard this thought (can't call it a quote, really) about the end of a democracy: It's over when the politicians can bribe the electorate with the treasury. In a small sense, this seems to be what Republicans have been doing over the last several years with the wealthy. In Florida, the Governor wants to pretty much eviscerate public funding of the school system in favor of a tax cut for corporations. I heard this last night on a news program. There's a good idea. It's worked so well on a federal level.
I really think it's about time to let the Republicans have their way! Never mind the mess they got us into in the first place. Never mind the last time we had a balanced budget, it was a democratic president working with a republican congress to run the government responsibly and we were all doing pretty well at that time.
What's the worst that could happen? No money for the arts. Cut money for education. No more PBS, nor NPR. No more planned parenthood (yes I hate abortion as much as the next guy, BTW), and cutting benefits for the poor and needy always is a good idea. I thought Pottersville looked like a jumping, swinging town compared to sleepy old Bedford Falls; didn't you?
What's the worst that could happen?
We can attract the best minds in America to be teachers because they're willing to work for less. Never mind the cost of the education required to BE a teacher, it's OK to have student loans out the ying-yang for a job that won't pay much, is difficult, and won't have the benefits it used to. After all, you only work nine months out of the year, so you can get a summer job mowing lawns at the park or something to make up the difference! We can cut the number of federal employees by cutting government. They can find jobs elsewhere because the job market is so strong right now. So what if the environment gets a little bit worse. (remember Love Canal?) So what if there's nobody to oversee the banks and big businesses that are responsible for much of the regulation we have today. So what if there's no oversight of the food and drug companies? That won't kill ALL of us!
Never mind the history books full of photos of the 1930s. Faith based organizations are ready and willing to step in and fill the void because giving to these groups is at an all-time high right now.
Unions are horrible. Let's go back to the days without them and remember it won't be like last time.
I likes me a Governor that's willing to rule with an iron fist. No compromises, that's key to leadership! His benefactors, (oops, I mean supporters!) clearly must be pleased. Let's keep on keeping on that path. Way to go Wisconsin for not caving in to what the people want. You all must be so proud of this shining example of what good Government is.
Rock on, Ohio! Way to go, Florida! Show us what you're made of, Indiana.
I'm serious about this. Let's let the Conservatives have their way. We can afford it. We can do it. Those of us lucky enough to have jobs will be fine and as long as we get ours, who cares about Bob, our neighbor. Let someone else worry about him. After all, this is America. We expect everyone to WORK for what they get. Apparently we expect them to work, now, until they drop. What the hell? It works in places like India and China, right?
As you see a continued shift of wealth away from the middle class, you're going to start seeing more of this. It's like Mr. Potter took over and he and his cronies are doing their best to make us a thrifty working class afraid of standing up for what's right, while they exact every penny we earn for their benefit. It's gotta be a great idea because the tea party says so! Capatilism! Greed is good! (heard that in a movie once)
Seriously, though. I'm not really advocating this. It would be awful. We do have to have a serious discussion about entitlements. I don't see anything wrong with expecting us to fund our own retirements through a government program. I think it's smart, in fact because the corporate dynamic has changed. Social Security exists for a reason. Look at how many corporate pension plans have failed. That's capitalism. You roll the dice, hope you'll still be in business long enough to pay your retirees but if the market speaks, sorry for your luck. And yours, Bob, for trusting your employer would be around for a long time. Look at how many big corporations are extinct, or would be, save a little Government intervention.
I think, too, that most people want to work. If there are people that do, and can't make ends meet because of a lack of education or ability, then what's wrong with a hand up. Why shouldn't we take care of our sick, our elderly, and our disabled?
I guess that's why you have a family, though, right? Or a church? Or a group like the United Way? And if you get sick and can't afford treatment that could save your life, well I guess it's "sorry for your luck." Have we really become that cold of a people?
What we want from Government I think is an important discussion to have. I think it's time we start having it on a local, county, state, and federal level and it's incumbent on us to become an informed electorate. You have to start listening to opinions you don't agree with to understand what the other side wants and why. Compromise is always good. Issues are important. We're broke as a country and at $4 a gallon for gas, households are fixing to get that way really fast.
What say you?
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